{ "id": 8525433, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JOSEPH LAMONT ABBITT", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Abbitt", "decision_date": "1985-04-02", "docket_number": "No. 8421SC394", "first_page": "679", "last_page": "685", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "73 N.C. App. 679" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "323 S.E. 2d 490", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "appeal by defendant pursuant to G.S. 7A-30(2) pending" }, { "page": "502" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "72 N.C. App. 59", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. 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App.", "case_ids": [ 8522630 ], "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/70/0421-01" ] }, { "cite": "271 S.E. 2d 273", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "301 N.C. 382", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8566430 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/301/0382-01" ] }, { "cite": "455 U.S. 603", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11306927 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/455/0603-01" ] }, { "cite": "447 U.S. 231", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6183056 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "238" }, { "page": "2129" }, { "page": "94" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/447/0231-01" ] }, { "cite": "384 U.S. 436", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 12046400 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1966, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/384/0436-01" ] }, { "cite": "401 U.S. 222", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11712077 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/401/0222-01" ] }, { "cite": "303 S.E. 2d 804", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "308 N.C. 736", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4710863 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/308/0736-01" ] }, { "cite": "307 S.E. 2d 304", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "309 N.C. 326", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4760257 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/309/0326-01" ] }, { "cite": "302 S.E. 2d 786", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "308 N.C. 530", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4705445 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/308/0530-01" ] }, { "cite": "74 L.Ed. 2d 513", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "footnotes omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "103 S.Ct. 381", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "footnotes omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "459 U.S. 1018", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6468801, 6468547, 6469476, 6468711, 6468967, 6469353, 6469608, 6468624, 6468465, 6468240, 6469044, 6468343, 6469144, 6469246 ], "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "footnotes omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/459/1018-07", "/us/459/1018-04", "/us/459/1018-13", "/us/459/1018-06", "/us/459/1018-08", "/us/459/1018-12", "/us/459/1018-14", "/us/459/1018-05", "/us/459/1018-03", "/us/459/1018-01", "/us/459/1018-09", "/us/459/1018-02", "/us/459/1018-10", "/us/459/1018-11" ] }, { "cite": "676 F. 2d 995", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 562145 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1002" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/676/0995-01" ] }, { "cite": "300 S.E. 2d 375", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "378" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "307 N.C. 655", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8565416 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "660" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/307/0655-01" ] }, { "cite": "323 S.E. 2d 490", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "72 N.C. 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App.", "case_ids": [ 8526220 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "69" } ], "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/72/0059-01" ] }, { "cite": "303 S.E. 2d 804", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "805-07" }, { "page": "807" } ], "opinion_index": 2 }, { "cite": "308 N.C. 736", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4710863 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "739-41" }, { "page": "741" } ], "opinion_index": 2, "case_paths": [ "/nc/308/0736-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 693, "char_count": 14574, "ocr_confidence": 0.814, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.643594115661138e-08, "percentile": 0.29161951140780795 }, "sha256": "55a31fa3be9205f6a42e1a5358331dc94e588cc3ae88ad17f1e6554edd2abcd7", "simhash": "1:87773e62be67b828", "word_count": 2446 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:55:13.639601+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Chief Judge HEDRICK and Judge WHICHARD concur in result." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JOSEPH LAMONT ABBITT" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "PARKER, Judge.\nIn his two assignments of error defendant argues that although he failed to object at trial to the alleged errors, we should review these errors by applying the plain error rule as adopted by our Supreme Court in State v. Odom, 307 N.C. 655, 300 S.E. 2d 375 (1983). The plain error rule allows review of assignments of error normally barred by waiver rules such as Rule 10, Rules of Appellate Procedure. The rule is defined as follows:\n\u201c[T]he plain error rule ... is always to be applied cautiously and only in the exceptional case where, after reviewing the entire record, it can be said the claimed error is a fundamental error, something so basic, so prejudicial, so lacking in its elements that justice cannot have been done,\u2019 or \u2018where [the error] is grave error which amounts to a denial of a fundamental right of the accused,\u2019 or the error has \u2018 \u201cresulted in a miscarriage of justice or in the denial to appellant of a fair trial\u201d \u2019 or where the error is such as to \u2018seriously affect the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings\u2019 or where it can be fairly said \u2018the instructional mistake had a probable impact on the jury\u2019s finding that the defendant was guilty.\u2019 \u201d\nState v. Odom, 307 N.C. at 660, 300 S.E. 2d at 378, quoting United States v. McCaskill, 676 F. 2d 995, 1002 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1018, 103 S.Ct. 381, 74 L.Ed. 2d 513 (1982) (footnotes omitted) (emphasis in original).\nIn his first assignment of error defendant contends the trial court erred by instructing the jury that defendant took property from the person or presence of Hunt while the indictment alleged defendant took property from the place of business of Hop-In Food Stores.\nRobbery with firearms or other dangerous weapons, 6.S. 14-87, provides that \u201c[a]ny person or persons who, having in possession or with the use or threatened use of any firearms or other dangerous weapon . . . whereby the life of a person is endangered or threatened, unlawfully takes . . . personal property from another or from any place of business . . . shall be guilty of a Class D felony.\u201d\nThe indictment alleged that defendant took sixty-nine dollars from the place of business of Hop-In Food Stores. In his charge to the jury the trial judge said the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant took property from the person of Lynne Hunt. Defendant contends the trial judge erred in failing to instruct the jury that they must find that defendant took property from the place of business of Hop-In Stores. Defendant, however, failed to raise this issue when, out of the presence of the jury, the judge asked if there were any requests for corrections to the charge to the jury. Thus, defendant is precluded by Rule 10(b)(2), Rules of Appellate Procedure from assigning error to this portion of the jury charge. State v. Bennett, 308 N.C. 530, 302 S.E. 2d 786 (1983). Moreover, after reviewing the entire record, we find the trial court did not commit plain error according to the standard set forth in Odom; thus defendant\u2019s failure to comply with Rule 10(b)(2) precludes his right to appeal this issue.\nIn his second assignment of error defendant argues that his constitutional right to silence was violated when the trial court allowed the State to attempt to impeach him at trial with his silence at the time of his arrest and after his arrest. Defendant failed to object at trial to these questions, instead he merely inserted \u201cexception\u201d throughout this portion of the trial transcript. A party may not comb through the transcript and randomly insert \u201cexception\u201d in disregard of Rule 10, Rules of Appellate Procedure. State v. Oliver, 309 N.C. 326, 307 S.E. 2d 304 (1983). Failure to object to error at trial is a waiver of the right to assert the error on appeal, unless the exception \u201cby rule or law was deemed preserved or taken without any such action,\u201d Rule 10(b)(1), Rules of Appellate Procedure, or the party alleging error contends the error was plain error. Id.\nIn State v. Black, 308 N.C. 736, 303 S.E. 2d 804 (1983), the plain error rule adopted in Odom was extended to the situation in which no objection or exception was made to evidence at trial. Review, in this situation, is limited to determining whether plain error was committed at trial.\nThe issues of impeachment by silence and by inadmissible statements have been addressed by the United States Supreme Court. In Harris v. New York, 401 U.S. 222, 91 S.Ct. 643, 28 L.Ed. 2d 1 (1971), the court held that the trial judge did not commit error by allowing the State to introduce into evidence, for impeachment purposes, prior inconsistent statements made by the defendant, which were inadmissible to establish the State\u2019s case in chief under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed. 2d 694 (1966).\nIn Jenkins v. Anderson, 447 U.S. 231, 100 S.Ct. 2124, 65 L.Ed. 2d 86 (1980), the United States Supreme Court held that a defendant, who at trial testified that he acted in self-defense, could be impeached by his prearrest silence. The court observed that attempted impeachment on cross-examination of a defendant may enhance the reliability of the criminal process. \u201c[IJmpeachment follows the defendant\u2019s own decision to cast aside his cloak of silence and advances the truth-finding function of the criminal trial.\u201d Jenkins v. Anderson, 447 U.S. at 238, 100 S.Ct. at 2129, 65 L.Ed. 2d at 94. The court concluded that although each State is entitled to formulate evidentiary rules defining the situations in which silence is considered more probative than prejudicial, the use of prearrest silence to impeach a defendant\u2019s credibility does not violate his Constitutional rights.\nIn Fletcher v. Weir, 455 U.S. 603, 102 S.Ct. 1309, 71 L.Ed. 2d 490 (1982), the United States Supreme Court, in a per curiam decision, held it did not violate due process for a State to permit cross-examination to impeach defendant as to his postarrest silence when defendant chooses to testify, and there is no evidence that Miranda warnings were given. The Court reiterated that each State is entitled to resolve, under its own rules of evidence, the extent to which postarrest silence may be deemed to impeach a criminal defendant who chooses to testify.\nThe North Carolina Supreme Court has not passed upon the question of impeachment of a criminal defendant by his pretrial silence. In State v. Lane, 301 N.C. 382, 271 S.E. 2d 273 (1980), our Supreme Court addressed the question of whether a defendant was prejudicially deprived of his constitutional rights when the trial court permitted the State to cross-examine him concerning his failure to disclose his alibi at the time he made a statement to police officers or at any time before trial. The court noted that with or without Miranda warnings, defendant\u2019s exercise of his right to remain silent was guaranteed by Article I, Section 23, of the North Carolina Constitution and the Fifth Amendment as incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. To determine whether defendant\u2019s statement was a prior inconsistent statement the court set forth the following test: whether it would have been natural for defendant to have mentioned his alibi defense at the time he made his statement. The court determined that it would not have been natural for defendant to do so, the statement was not a prior inconsistent statement, and allowing the cross-examination was prejudicial error.\nThe issue of impeachment by silence, when the defendant has not made any statement, has been addressed by this court recently. In State v. McGinnis, 70 N.C. App. 421, 320 S.E. 2d 297 (1984), the defendant made no statements to the police, and the record did not disclose whether he was advised of his Miranda rights. On cross-examination the State attempted to impeach defendant with his failure to tell the police before trial that the shooting was accidental, which was his defense at trial. This court, applying the test set forth in Lane, held that it clearly would have been natural for defendant to have told the arresting officer that the shooting was accidental if defendant had believed so, and overruled defendant\u2019s assignment of error. The court made no mention of the fact that in Lane the defendant failed to disclose his alibi in a statement he made to the police officers, while in McGin-nis the defendant made no statement at all.\nIn State v. Hunt, 72 N.C. App. 59, 323 S.E. 2d 490 (1984) (appeal by defendant pursuant to G.S. 7A-30(2) pending), the defendant made no statement before or after his arrest, and the record did not disclose whether he was given his Miranda rights. On cross-examination the State attempted to impeach defendant as to his pretrial silence. This court again applied the Lane test, observing that it does not make any difference whether defendant remains totally silent or makes some statement, and held defendant\u2019s pretrial failure to assert his defense brought forth at trial, namely that he was innocent and the victim\u2019s son actually did the killing, was an inconsistency which the jury could consider as impeaching evidence. The dissenting opinion in Hunt, by Judge Whichard, points out that Lane involved a postarrest statement, whereas Hunt involved postarrest silence. The dissent in Hunt views Lane as holding that impeachment by a prior inconsistent statement is the single exception to the constitutional right to silence; silence is involved only insofar as a prior inconsistent statement may be silent as to a material circumstance testified to at trial, which it would have been natural for defendant to have mentioned in his prior statement. The dissent concluded that the impeaching evidence was violative of defendant\u2019s privilege against self-incrimination provided by Article I, Section 23 of the North Carolina Constitution. \u201cTo hold otherwise allows the State to convert exercise of the privilege against self-incrimination into a sword that pierces the credibility of a defendant who also exercises the right to present a defense at trial through his or her own testimony.\u201d State v. Hunt (dissent), 72 N.C. App. at 80, 323 S.E. 2d at 502.\nWhile we believe the rationale of dissent in Hunt is meritorious, the doctrine of stare decisis leads us to follow McGin-nis and Hunt, and we, therefore, find\nNo error.\nChief Judge HEDRICK and Judge WHICHARD concur in result.\n. Rule 10(b)(2) provides in pertinent part: \u201cNo party may assign as error any portion of the jury charge or omission therefrom unless he objects thereto before the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating distinctly that to which he objects and the grounds of his objection; provided, that opportunity was given to the party to make the objection out of the hearing of the jury. . . .\u201d", "type": "majority", "author": "PARKER, Judge." }, { "text": "Chief Judge HEDRICK\nconcurring in result.\nIn my opinion, the two assignments of error discussed in the majority opinion are wholly without merit and require no discussion. Furthermore, I do not believe in the rationale of the dissent in State v. Hunt, 72 N.C. App. 59, 323 S.E. 2d 490 (1984). I believe in the rationale of the majority opinion in Hunt, and in that of State v. Lane, 301 N.C. 382, 271 S.E. 2d 273 (1980) and State v. McGinnis, 70 N.C. App. 421, 320 S.E. 2d 297 (1984).", "type": "concurrence", "author": "Chief Judge HEDRICK" }, { "text": "Judge WHICHARD\nconcurring in the result.\nMy position on the substantive issue of impeachment by pretrial silence is fully stated in the dissenting opinion in State v. Hunt, 72 N.C. App. 59, 69, 323 S.E. 2d 490, 495 (1984). In Hunt, however, unlike here, defendant had objected at trial to admission of the impeaching testimony. Because defendant here did not object at trial, he is entitled to a new trial only if admission of the impeaching testimony constituted \u201cplain error.\u201d See State v. Black, 308 N.C. 736, 739-41, 303 S.E. 2d 804, 805-07 (1983). \u201cPlain error\u201d may be found only if admission of the evidence had a probable impact on the jury\u2019s finding of guilt or if there is a reasonable probability that the evidence \u201ctilted the scales\u201d in favor of conviction. Black, 308 N.C. at 741, 303 S.E. 2d at 807. In light of the eyewitness identification testimony here, I do not believe the impeaching evidence had a probable impact on the finding of guilt. I therefore decline to find \u201cplain error\u201d and concur in the determination that defendant\u2019s trial was free from prejudicial error.", "type": "concurrence", "author": "Judge WHICHARD" } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Edmisten by Assistant Attorney General Richard L. Kucharski for the State.", "Appellate Defender Adam Stein by Assistant Appellate Defender Robin E. Hudson for defendant appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JOSEPH LAMONT ABBITT\nNo. 8421SC394\n(Filed 2 April 1985)\n1. Robbery \u00a7 5.2\u2014 person from whom property taken \u2014 instructions\u2014no plain error\nIn a prosecution for armed robbery, the trial court did not commit plain error entitling defendant to a new trial despite his failure to object when it instructed the jury that the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant took property from the person or presence of a certain store employee rather than from the place of business of Hop-In Stores as alleged in the indictment.\n2. Constitutional Law \u00a7 76; Criminal Law \u00a7 48\u2014 post-arrest silence \u2014 use for impeachment \u2014 no plain error\nThe admission of testimony of defendant\u2019s post-arrest silence for impeachment purposes did not constitute plain error entitling defendant to a new trial despite his failure to object.\nChief Judge Hedrick concurring in result.\nJudge Whichard concurring in result.\nAppeal by defendant from Collier, Judge. Judgment entered 2 February 1984 in Superior Court, FORSYTH County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 15 January 1985.\nDefendant was charged on an indictment, proper in form, with armed robbery. He was found guilty and sentenced to a term of eighteen years.\nAt trial the State\u2019s evidence tended to show that on 6 November 1983, defendant went into a Hop-In Food Store, asked Roberta Hunt, the employee, for a pack of cigarettes, pulled a knife out of his pocket and told Hunt to give him all the money in the cash register. Defendant, who was wearing a red baseball cap and blue jacket, left the store with the money. Three police officers found defendant in a kudzu covered bank behind the School of the Arts. Defendant had twenty-five dollars in small bills, eight quarters and two extension cords in his pockets.\nHunt identified defendant less than one hour after the robbery when the police brought him to the Hop-In.\nDefendant, testifying on his own behalf, denied robbing the Hop-In.\nFrom the judgment and sentence of eighteen years defendant appeals.\nAttorney General Edmisten by Assistant Attorney General Richard L. Kucharski for the State.\nAppellate Defender Adam Stein by Assistant Appellate Defender Robin E. Hudson for defendant appellant." }, "file_name": "0679-01", "first_page_order": 711, "last_page_order": 717 }